"My Wife's Lovers" is a significant achievement in the world of art, not just for its considerable size but also for its intriguing backstory and unique subject matter. Painted by the Austrian artist Carl Kahler in 1893, this colossal piece stands out as the world's largest cat painting, a fitting tribute to the feline companions of its commissioner, Kate Birdsall Johnson.
Johnson was an affluent lady from California who was immensely fond of cats, owning several herself. This admiration led her to commission Kahler to create a monumental canvas featuring 42 of her beloved Turkish Angora and Persian cats. The task was daunting, primarily due to the scale and attention to detail required. Kahler, who was more accustomed to painting horse racing and other sporting subjects, spent three years studying and sketching each cat to capture their distinct personalities and nuances in the final artwork.
The painting measures an impressive 6 feet 3 inches by 8.5 feet and weighs 227 pounds. Due to its enormity, the installation of the painting posed a logistical challenge, necessitating a specially constructed wall robust enough to support its weight. The sheer scale of this piece underscores the luxuriousness and opulence with which Johnson regarded her pets, elevating the painting to a status symbol of her wealth and her affection for her cats.
"My Wife's Lover" not only serves as a visual spectacle but also as a historical artifact, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination with domestic pets and their anthropomorphism. This painting is celebrated not just for its size but for how it beautifully conveys the characters of individual cats, making it a beloved piece among cat enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
Today, the painting is recognized not only for its aesthetic appeal and technical prowess but also for its cultural significance in the world of animal portraiture. It's a masterpiece that charmingly captures the lavish affection one woman had for her cats, immortalizing them in a way that continues to draw interest and admiration.
